The environment of Mars is much more challenging than that of Earth. The temperatures can vary from -140°C to 30°C, with a daily amplitude of up to 100°C. Designing a rubber tire, which could preserve its viscoelastic properties in these temperatures, is a challenging task. Only butadiene rubber (BR) and silicone rubber (VMQ) exhibit glass transition temperatures low enough to ensure elasticity in these conditions. This work focuses on the preparation of BR/VMQ compounds, which could maintain their elasticity and mechanical properties during operation on Mars.

• The characteristics of the Mars environment
• The challenges of designing rubber for Mars missions
• Processing and properties of VMQ/BR-based compounds